[VENT] How is it ok for medical 'professionals' to not accept any more patients???

I do not understand how medical professionals can refuse to take on patients!! I'm trying to get a referral to an 'available' pediatrition for DS's reflux, as far as Im aware he needs to go on stronger medication than Zantac. I was referred to a DR 3hrs away in a larger town, when I rang to make the appoointment the receptionist politely refused to make said appointment, as Pediatrition was away for the next few weeks & the booked out for weeks after that. She suggested another DR in the same town.

I rang my GP back & requested I be referred to other DR & explained that the first was unavailable. They've just called me back after contacting the office of the 2nd pediatrition & say that DR isnt accepting any new patients (this DR is also the one that does monthly trips to my town). My GP's receptionist made the flippant comment that perhaps I will have to go to another town....6HRS AWAY...to see the pediatrition there!!!!!

Firstly I do not understand in this day & age, why I may have to drive 6hrs ONE WAY for a specialist when there is one that comes here???
Secondly how can they refuse to accept a patient???

:hug: i'm sorry you're dealing with this.

They're private business people so they can take on clients or not as they choose. As with any profession, they need to work out if they can service their existing client base adequately first. There's only so many hours in the day and they also have private lives.

None of this helps you. It sucks there arent more doctors of all sorts in rural areas. The few that are there work long hours trying to meet demand.

:hug: hun thats terrible :(

My GP who's a retired OB also doesn't take on any new patients as his current 'client base' is massive. when you book in to see him, you will wait a minimum of 1-1.5hrs to see him - he is the most popular doc at this surgery due to his extended appts so he stopped taking new patients back in 2009.

i hope you can get in to see someone soon

That sucks honey. I remember when I went into labour (31 weeks) and my m/w rang Royal Womens in Melbourne (as I had to have DD there, not locally) and got one of my OBs and she told my m/w that they were too busy to accept me and that I'd just have to wait for my normal appt in 3 days.
So, I went to my local hospital and they admitted me and transfered me to Melbourne (via air ambulance).

Sometimes it just sucks. I'm so sorry that your little one needs more than Zantac. Having a refluxy bub isn't fun.
:hug: Hope you sort it out soon.

im going through that now i feel your pain :(
my DS1 ped is so beyond booked out its a joke, my daughter couldnt even get an appt! (my first referal for his ped had to be changed as that ped wasnt taking new patients)
finding a dr local who dealt with tounge ties was near impossible and when i finally found one it was a ONE off appt only as his not taking any new patients
now trying to find a new GP and all the good ones are either totally booked out for weeks or not taking new patients

an plus weve got several medical practises that close late at night but stop taking patients from 5pm as they are totally booked out!

:hug:
Unforunately, many doctors don't have much choice. Their is only one of them and they have MANY patients. They simply don't have the time to do anymore then they already do, their current patient caseloads are usually already causing them to work long hours and take time out of their own lives.

That does suck but it's not their fault that their resources are stretched so thin that they can't afford the time for more patients. Our GP won't take more patients because he just doesn't have enough time to see them.
Maybe you should contact your local MP and ask what they are doing about the shortage of medical professionals in your area.

Get your Dr to make personal contact with the Drs that are 3 hours away, often they will make exceptions out of politeness to colleagues, but not to the public who ring. There is always a way around these things, you just have to be patient, polite an explain the circumstances so that someone who can help you helps you.

It was my GP's office that contacted the Pediatrition's Marydean. So I don't know what to do now, it's back in my GP's hands at this point.

I just think its such a double-edged sword really, they try to catch things like PND before it occurs but its things like this that push people over the edge, when they can't get the medical/professional help they need & are basically backed into a corner with nothing to do but wait.
Not saying that Im in that position at the moment (I was a month or so ago), but for sure the crying, screaming & unsettledness that comes with reflux would push some mothers over the edge....so what do you do in that case????

Yes I agree that it is shocking. I recently had this problem as I usually go to the uni doctor but they are only there a few days a week. So I called one of my local ones and they told me they were no longer accepting new patients BUT I could go to their other clinic. So off I went there. It is a bit inconvenient for me as it is about 30 mins from home while the other is about 10. Anyway I register there at which point they told me that now that I am registered I can use any of their clinics including the original one that I tried!!!! WTF?!? So now I just use the original one and can't understand why they bother refusing people like that.

I'm sorry you are having to deal with this.

Doctors have a duty of care not only to their patients but to themselves. It is even harder for regional based doctors having a wide catchment area for clients.

I hope something can be sorted out for you.

That really sucks. The crappy thing is obviously there is enough demand for another paed to service your area but it is sooooo hard to attract Drs and particularly specialists to regional areas.

Sorry you are going through this, but talk to your current gp they can prescribe losec, it is stronger than Zantac and what Ds is on now we only see our gp.

That sucks!!
We got losec from a normal dr? Dd was om zantac and it did nothing so my gp prescribed losec and it was a god send! Can you ask your gp if they can prescribe losec for you?

Hugs hun!!! Reflux sucks :(


Sent from my iPhone so sorry for the spelling and punctuation!!